![]() ![]() The last one, RSA 4096, is used for legacy purposes and is being phased out. Encryption is handled using AES 256, ECDH521, and RSA 4096. The goal is a "zero knowledge" system, which means that even if Wickr's servers were compromised or seized by law enforcement, there would be nothing intelligible to obtain. Wickr's developers told me they plan to move to a freemium system with in-app purchases, such as longer message lifespans.Įach message is encrypted with a different key, and the keys are stored on users' devices-not with Wickr. In the background, Wickr is erasing and overwriting the data so it can't be recovered with digital forensics techniques. When it runs out, an explosion animation devours your message. The clock starts running once the recipient taps to open the message, and it's a literal digital timer displaying the remaining time down to the second for each message. Messages can last anywhere from three seconds to six days. ![]() In the app's Settings, you define the default life span of each message you send over Wickr. Snapchat offered a similar feature in their much-maligned picture messaging app, but Wickr actually delivers on secure, ephemeral messaging. Still, this is much smaller than services like Viber.Įverything Is Temporary (and Encrypted) One of my favorite spy tropes is the self-destructing tapes used in the opening of Mission: Impossible episodes. Wickr tells me that one million users have downloaded the app, but that they don't track user statistics. I was happily surprised to see that Wickr also handles group messaging with ease. You can send a Wickr message to non-user, who will receive an email invite for them to join. This neatly side-steps the problem of messaging services amassing huge amounts of personal information by copying your contact list in order to find other users. ![]() Neither your phone number nor email address is ever directly in Wickr's hands, she said. The difference is that Wickr boldly notes promises that your personal information will not be directly stored on their servers, but rather as a cryptographic "representation."Ĭo-founder Nico Sell, who berated an FBI agent that asked to install a backdoor into Wickr, explained that this system compares cryptographic hashes of phone numbers and email addresses in order to find other users. Its simple sign-up system does the normal things like asking for a username, password, and prompting you for your email address and phone number so other users can find you. Turning The Key Right off the bat you'll notice some differences about how Wickr presents itself if you're familiar with other messenger apps like Viber and Snapchat.
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